The Justice Minister said she is very concerned for the young woman and baby at the centre of the first known test of the country’s new abortion laws.

Frances Fitzgerald said the Government will continue to monitor the law and see how it is used following the shocking case.

Earlier this summer the woman was denied an abortion under the new Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act after she claimed to be suicidal.

The woman’s case was reviewed by a panel of three medical experts before they decided not to permit her terminate the pregnancy.

Minister Fitzgerald said: “Well obviously I can’t comment, as you will appreciate, on individual cases.

“Obviously I would be concerned and people reading the accounts will be concerned for the woman and the baby involved.

“Clearly we passed legislation earlier in the year and will continue to monitor that legislation and see how it is being implemented.”

It is believed the woman who is not from Ireland was unable to leave the country to have an abortion in the UK because of her legal states.

It has also been reported that the women became pregnant after being raped.

It us understood that while the woman was suicidal the obstetrician on the panel said because the baby was at a very advanced stage, it should be delivered.

At first the woman did not agree with the decision and went on hunger strike but she later consented to agreed to have the baby which was delivered by Caesarian section.

The case has raised a number of serious questions about the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act and there may now be calls for it to be amended.

The Act came into force last January and for the first time it set out when an abortion could be allowed under Irish law.

There are provisions of terminations when there is a threat to the life of the mother, including when she is suicidal.

When this is the case the woman goes before the panel of three medical experts who assess her condition.

If they agree that the threat to her life is established they will allow an abortion take place.

The latest case has raised concerns among pro-choice and anti-abortion groups have which both claim that it exposes serious problems with the new law.

Pro Life Campaign spokesperson, Dr Ruth Cullen, said: “Reports that an unborn baby was recently delivered at 25 weeks, citing provisions in the new abortion Act, underlines the horror and deep-seated flaws of the government’s legislation.

“To induce a pregnancy at such an early stage inevitably puts the baby at risk of serious harm, such as brain damage, blindness or even death.

“The fact that the panel could just as easily have sanctioned an abortion in this case also brings home everything that is wrong about the new law.”

In a statement,

Doctors for Choice, which campaigns for a “comprehensive reproductive health services”, also said they are concerned about the case.